STEVE INSKEEP, BYLINE: We're in the final days of the pro football season. Three games are scheduled for this Christmas Day, and two of them could affect the playoffs. Dianna Russini is the senior NFL insider for The Athletic, sideline reporter for one of today's games on Netflix. Congratulations on that job title, Dianna. That's amazing.
DIANNA RUSSINI: Yes. I begged them to make it sound very important.
INSKEEP: (Laughter).
RUSSINI: Because the job is really not that important. I get to cover the beautiful sport of the NFL, and it's not that serious, but it's fun.
INSKEEP: But that means you're going to be on the sidelines in Minneapolis for this game between the Detroit Lions and the Vikings. What's up?
RUSSINI: I know. This is going to be a good one, too, only because you've got the Lions. They're hanging on by a thread here. They've got an opportunity to get into the playoffs. If they're able to win this game, their next game, and get a little help from the Green Bay Packers. Essentially, the Packers need to lose out in order for the Detroit Lions to go dancing here in the postseason. And talking to them, they are hungry to try to finish this season strong.
INSKEEP: Got to take care of what you can take care of and leave the rest of fate, I suppose.
RUSSINI: Yeah.
INSKEEP: The Kansas City Chiefs, it's too late for them. That's surprising.
RUSSINI: Yeah, you know, when do you ever doubt Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid...
INSKEEP: Never.
RUSSINI: ...And Travis Kelce and Chris Jones? Never. The fools do. Don't listen to them. It's funny. I was one of those going, everybody, relax, all season long. And unfortunately, I think what happened was this roster just kind of got older when we weren't paying attention because you just believe in so many of these stars. And I named some of them. They're getting older.
But here's one thing I know. I've covered Patrick Mahomes since he's entered the league. Nobody returns with a chip on his shoulder than Patrick Mahomes. So I'm expecting him to come off of this knee injury, get through this rehab, and try to take his team back to the Super Bowl. I'd be surprised if they're not back in the playoffs next year.
INSKEEP: The Denver Broncos, I should mention, who are playing the Chiefs, they're moving in the opposite direction. They're on the way up.
RUSSINI: You know, they had a really good season last year, right? Sean Payton took over, made some really big decisions moving on from Russell Wilson. They draft Bo Nix. They've got a stellar defense. And that defense is actually the reason why they've been able to get this far, right? They just finished off an 11-game win streak, you know, just losing. But they love facing the Chiefs. So we'll see them tonight face them. And the last time they played, they won. And they're not afraid of the Chiefs. And I think that's something I've always noticed about Denver since Sean Payton took over. And I think that edge has really helped them.
INSKEEP: OK, so I want to ask about football on Christmas Day, which is not a thing that happened. Pro football did not happen on Christmas Day when I was growing up. What is it like to be playing on this day?
RUSSINI: So I really got a mixed bag of reaction from the guys. I found the players that have the young kids are struggling a little bit with this because, we all know, Christmas morning is the best with kids. And I think what one player told me he was doing, which is actually what my family and I are doing since I'm working, Santa is busy. Santa's got stuff to do. Santa's running errands, doing all this stuff, so he's going to be a little delayed.
INSKEEP: (Laughter).
RUSSINI: So in my household, Christmas Day is now the 27th. So hopefully they won't mind. I mean, my little toddlers are the same two kids who woke up on Thanksgiving and said happy Mother's Day. So they don't know any better.
INSKEEP: There we go. Well, you know, there's 12 days of Christmas. So on one of the days, they're going to get it.
RUSSINI: (Laughter) Thank you. I agree with that. I'm going to take that. And when my family pushes back on me to guilt me for working on Christmas Day, I'm going to say, Christmas is 12 days.
INSKEEP: That's my Christmas present to you, Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Thanks so much.
RUSSINI: I appreciate you. Merry Christmas.
INSKEEP: It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
And I'm Leila Fadel.
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